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Book Review of South of Broad

South of Broad
South of Broad
Author: Pat Conroy
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
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If this were a true story, I might find it fascinating. Unfortunately, I knew it was fiction and highly improbable fiction at that. If this were a travel book about Charleston, I might have enjoyed parts of it as much as I have enjoyed visiting this city. But, it isn't a travelog, and the characters and rambling plot get in the way. If this were a "coming of age" novel, I could get into some of the relationships between snotty Charleston natives, integration pioneers, and Appalachian transplants but the inclusion of extremely talented twins with a background of abuse by an estranged and homicidal father added an overload of irrational relationships and subplots. In short, I just didn't know what this story was intended to do or say, and apart from some witty and entertaining dialog, I just could not conclude it was an enjoyable or meaningful read.